WHITTIER – For the second time, vandals defaced a billboard featuring a fugitive wanted by the FBI for allegedly shooting two deputies in 2000 with an assault weapon.

But this time, the suspects were caught in the act.

Deputies arrested Miguel Lopez, 19, and Anthony Mercado, 22, on suspicion of felony vandalism and conspiracy on Friday. The Whittier men are out on $10,000 bond and will return to court next month.

A passerby saw two men spray painting the billboard featuring Emigdio Preciado Jr. at Imperial Highway and Leffingwell Road about 4 a.m. on Friday, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Mills.

Deputies got the call and found the two suspects still on the roof of a nearby building. They were told to remain there.

While one held up his hands, Mills said the other man jumped down and was later found hiding in the yard of a business.

He said the two suspects have no gang affiliation. It’s unknown if they were behind the first vandalism.

The billboard, which was tagged in pale blue letters, still had not been replaced as of Tuesday. Mills estimated the damage at $700.

Preciado, a reputed member of the Southside Whittier street gang, is wanted for allegedly shooting Deputies Michael Schaap and David Timberlake during a traffic stop on Sept. 5, 2000, at Gunn Avenue and Mulberry Street. Schaap was hit in the head and required rehabilitation.

Preciado landed on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted fugitives list and is believed to have fled to Mexico.

The FBI paid to have the billboard put up Oct. 19 with Preciado’s mugs, name and a phone number for tipsters to call.

Someone spray painted over the three photos and names on Oct. 23. It was replaced.

Then it got vandalized again last week.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said a replacement has been ordered and could be installed this week.

FBI Special Agent Scott Garriola said the latest vandalism seems to be different than the previous incident in which Preciado’s name and photos were covered.

“It looked like a direct attempt to cover his identity. This one seems like random vandalism. The billboard is still readable,” he said.

He called the incidents a shame to the neighborhood.

“People have no respect for law enforcement, targeting the billboard,” Garriola said.

There is a $150,000 reward for Preciado; $100,000 of that from the FBI and the remaining $50,000 from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Preciado is Latino, 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs about 180 pounds and may have the names “Susana” and “Alexa” tattooed on the left side of his chest.

Anyone with information on Preciado’s whereabouts is asked to call (888) 226-8443.

Ruby Gonzales started working for the company in 1991. Since then she has written about cities, school districts, crimes, cold cases, courts, the San Gabriel River, local history, anime, insects, forensics and the early days of the Internet when people still referred to it as the "information superhighway." Her current beat includes breaking news, crimes and courts for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star News and Whittier Daily News. When not in crime reporter mode, she frequents the remaining bookstores in the San Gabriel Valley, haunts craft stores or gets dragged to eateries by a relative who is a foodie.